Adjusting means for yoke arrangements



Oct. 119, 1948. E. P.-KINNE ETAL ADJUSTING MEANS FOR:YOKE ARRANGEMENTS INVENTORJZ m Q Filed July' 5, 1944 @dnuuzo/ Patented Oct. 19, 1948 USTINGVMEANS FOR YOKE GEMENTS ,Kinneand Frank H. Kayler, Alliance, jfihio assignorsg oAmerican Steel Foundries, 'Chicago,'f llll.,' a; corporation ,of New Jersey Application July 3, 1944, Serial N0.- 543,382

.lQQleim T 1 i IQur inyention relates to draft. riggingior railway, .cars;and. particularly to a.- novel arran ent for. connecting; the yoke and 7 associated t such asflthe coupler andHdr-aft gear End is ,ltween eyoke-,and {thedraft gear, which, is norll'lfilll; ried lftherewithim' by adjustabl means ,,assqc atedmithfsaidyoke a apted ,to,' mo divfy ,the length of the draft gear pocket ,of said. yoke vas ima u be des df ur noyeLarrangement, pomprehends, a, structure which istsirriple and relativelyg easy to apply an islt qrd s nei lt ede t dto-r adyi na uufaq rar ith rea onab ,t e a c ..lath nawinesm ure 11s fragment r si elevati n i; a-. e; dvin u nv nt n thegearend of. thegtokej being showrn'as thev strucv ture .is generallywellknownin the art.

Figure Zis atop plan view of the. yoke-structure ,sh din-F u e -.i.11.' s .r r nanl nd Rear ele a i th structure shown in Figures 1 and 2; taken.;fx',om

the r eht ssae i erei ",f Feure i furth v slse o th J9 omendiakea a 'p oximate vi t d g n pla v ,indicat'edby the: i t'l l lxoiflisur l Figure, tq iswa 'iragmentam view qompa aloiev t Figure 1 land." illustrating the parts, imposition .akim mltak i j -ure 6 is a further, View F comparabletol Figillustrating .the; parts in Ip'ositio'n .of as-- @E'igures L8. and 9. show thetdetailiof our novel ifPrmJQt-I d ust n W e F u wein a si eleviation thereof; Figure. 8 a rear elevation, and FigureQ atop plan view. r p Figures (lfifilld 11 show our .novelform of, adjusting -.s,crew, lFigure 10' being a side elevation ltaehra flla difi isi r l l r nle q i tak n i om theShanK IiMh I O ljescribin the, structure in detaiL; it .maybe ,notedLthat, .the yoke' generally designated, 2, is of the .vertical Itype having the, top, web 4,1 .the ,bQttomQwebt, merging, with the ,diag onal end ,wall 8, the lateral edges of whichmaybe rein- ,or,c d. br,t erspaced webs Br nd w hla "side Wal s to h r wi th yot om; b' -l n .lt ew asp alir b flhmav-i ,a ft ian u arpocket,

...g,e ile s na dla Q e -int face-1 igned pai ticularly as. a means of adjusting ffeqtive' length of [the draft, gear ,pocketgin 1 the diagonal WeblBadjacent the upper end and a the yoke with the threaded end thereof project- .ing upwardly into ,the pocket 9.

centrally'thereof may be formed the inwardly projectin vT-shaped lug'or key I l. I

At the bottonilof the pocket 9 may .be formed anoangularlyarranged seat ll (Figure 6) which omayafford a rest for the annular shoulder, l3 of the adjusting screw I(Figure 10), saidscrew having avT-shaped shank orlower end Ilv which may belpassed through the elongated slot was the ,adjusting screw or bolt .is assembled with The ,adjustingwedge I8, shown in detail in Figures '7, 8 and 9, may be brought intoengagement with the threaded end of the,,bo1t. l5 and saidbolt or serew turnedflinto normal engag ment therewithlulitil' the vwedge. [8 seats an the lug or key l l, said, key being effective to main- ,tain the upper end of said Wedge l8 in normal upright vposition. When in said normal upright positiongthe wedge l8 may be caused to. slide ,along thefldiagonal web 8, which it abutsal'ong .bottomweb fi asat'Zll(Figure 6). Said wedge 18 maythenvbewrotated as indicated by the arrow 1 at 22 to the normal, operative position illustrated in; Figure 2, where the -frp t. face 24 of said Wedge may be a approximately vertically positioned 'for abutrnen with the end of the draft gear normally .positionedwithin ,theyoke pocket. After the ,we'dge l8 is rotatedjinto position, the adjusting screw; Idmay be turned along the threaded enagementtat 28 with the wedge [8 until said wedge .Iliv is elevated sufiiciently sothat the T- s ha-pedslotflil in the top thereof may, engage as at..32the,1ower edge. of the aforemtioned T-shaped thefsloping rear face 34 thereof (Figure 7). .,,Wli en"the wedge .18 is in normal operative po- ,sit ion,.,the werticallateral flanges 36., 36 thereof may .overlap as at" 38,,38 (Figure 2) the, inner vertical edges ;of .,the. side wallsor webs l0 and 12, and thevertical lateral; faces 40,. d6 of said tw dge rnay be closely confined between said side w alls/l fli and l 2 as .welliillustrated in; said. Figu c At, the,extremity ofthelower Web Band on the outer face thereof,may,be formed the spaced lugsAZ AZ, spacedlsufi iciently to permit rotation therehetweemofthe Tt-shap edfshank. il-of the .vadjusting screw [5, said lugs 42;, d2 having aligned openings through ,which may extend the cotter keyvil igsaid lgey serving asi neans for vretaining l s aidgadjusting, screw, against. rotation after the ustingj;wedge flhasrbeen, moved into its.- deed vertiealposition.

: as vs ee'n in Figure 1, thejwedge. l 8, is elevated 3 just sufficiently to permit cooperative engagement of the lug M with the slot 30. In Figure 5, the wedge i8 is illustrated as elevated to its topmost position, representing maximum possible take-up of the slack in the yoke. In said topmost position the upper end of the wedge i8 seats as at 46 in the shallow recess 48 formed in the top Web 4. At the same time, the T-shaped lug I4 is approximately at the bottom of the slot 30, as may be noted at 5B (Figure 5). When in this topmost position, there is still a substantial portion of the upper end of the adjusting screw IS in threaded engagement with the lower portion of the wedge [8, as clearly seen at 52.

In our novel arrangement, substantial bearing areas are afforded at the front face 24 of the adjusting wedge where it may seat against the enclosed draft gear and also large bearing area is provided for said wedge to seat against the diagonal web 8 at the rear of the yoke, and said wedge is also, as previously indicated, closely confined between the side webs or walls Ill and I2. The wedge I8 is maintainedin normal vertical position by its cooperative engagement with the lug i 4 but no strain; is placed on said lug except that required to support the weight of said wedge in said vertical position.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a draft arrangement, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pocket, means in said pocket projecting into said opening for adjusting the effective length thereof, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw within said pocket in threaded engagement with said Wedge for moving said wedge upwardly along said member, thereby adjusting the effective length of said opening, means on said diagonal member and said wedge for maintaining said wedge in normal vertical position, said last-mentioned means comprising a T-shaped lug on said member and a complementary pocket in said Wedge opening at the top thereof and receiving said lug, the lower of said horizontal webs having a diagonal portion forming a seat, a shoulder on said screw seated on said seat, and an elongate slot in said lower web extending through a portion of said seat, said screw havin T-shaped shank adapted to pass through said slot in a tical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pocket, means in said pocket projecting into said opening for adjusting th effective length of said opening, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw within said pocket in threaded engagement with said wedge and operable to move said wedge vertically for adjusting the effective length'of said opening, means on said diagonal member engaging the top of said wedge to maintain said wedge in normal vertical position, said last-mentioned means comprising a, T-shaped lug received in a complementary pocket in said wedge, the lower of said horizontal webs having a diagonal portion forming a seat,and a shoulder on said screw intermediate the ends thereof seated on said seat.

4. In a draft connection, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, saidyoke having at the rear thereof an integral diagonal member defining with said webs a pocket extending into said opening and a wedge in said pocket slidable along said member for varying the effective length of said opening, and rotatable means positioned in the lower of said horizontal web in retaining engagement with said wedge for adsingle rotatable position of the screw, and releasable engaging means on said yoke and said screw for fixin said screw against rotation.-

2. In a draft arrangement, a yoke having vertical'and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pockeg means in said pocket projecting into said opening for adjusting the eifective length of said opening, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw within said pocket in threaded engagement with said wedge and operable to move said wedge upwardly and downwardly for adjusting the effective length of said opening, means on said to maintain said wedge in normal vertical posilusting the vertical position thereof, said diagonal member having means engaging said wedge for maintaining substantially vertical position thereof, said means comprising a T-shaped lug engageable in a complementary slot at the top of said wedge, said wedge being upwardly movable along said diagonal member to seat in a recess in the upper of said horizontal webs above said pocket. 5. In a draft arrangement, a yoke having vertical and horizontalwebs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pocket projecting into said opening, and means in said pocket for adjusting the effective length thereof, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw seated on the lower of said horizontal webs within said pocket in threaded engagement with said wedge and operable to move said wedge diagonally for adjusting the effective length of said opening, and means on said diagonal member engaging the top of said wedge to maintain said wedge in normal vertical position, said lastmentioned means comprising a T-shaped lug received in a complementary pocket in said wedge.

6. In a draft connection, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, said yoke having at the rear thereof an integral diagonal member defining with said webs a pocket projecting into said opening and a wedge insaid pocket slidable along said member for varying the efiective length of said opening, and rotatable means positioned in the lower of said horizontal webs in retaining engagement with said wedge for ad- J'usti'ng' the vertical position thereof, said diagonal member having means engaging said wedge for maintaining substantially vertical position thereof, said means comprising a T-shaped lug engageable in a complementary slot at the top of said wedge.

'7. In a draft arrangement, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pocket, and means in said pocket projecting into said opening for adjusting the effective length thereof, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw seated on the lower of said horizontal webs within said pocket in threaded engagement with said wedge and operable to move said wedge upwardly for adjusting the effective length of said opening and having spaced integral means intermediate the ends thereof loosely embracing said lower web therebetween, and means adjacent the top of said diagonal member engaging the top of said wedge to maintain said wedge in normal vertical position, said wedge in its lowermost operative place being in engagement with said last-mentioned means and retainable in a vertical position in said place by said last-mentioned means and said screw.

8. In a draft connection, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, said yoke having at the rear thereof an integral diagonal member defining with said webs a pocket, a wedge in said pocket projecting into said opening and slidable along said member for varying the effective length of said opening, and rotatable means extending through the lower of said horizontal webs in holding engagement with said wedge for adjusting the vertical position thereof and having integral means seated upon the top surface of said lower web and rotatable thereon, said diagonal member having means adjacent the top thereof engaging said wedge for maintaining substantially vertical position thereof from the lowermost to the uppermost operative positions thereof, said rotatable means being operative to move said wedge to a place below its lowermost operative position to disengage it from said means on said member to permit removal of said wedge from said pocket.

9. In a draft arrangement, a yoke member having a pocket comprising a diagonal end wall, an adjusting member at one end of said yoke member and projecting into said pocket and in engagement with said wall, said adjusting member being slidable along said wall for varying the effective length of said pocket, means on one of said members cooperating with the other member for moving said adjusting member along said wall, and interengaging means on said adjusting member and said wall for, together with said first-mentioned means, holding said adjusting member against said wall in predetermined operative positions, said interengaging means disengaging when said adjusting member is moved to its nonoperative position whereby said adjusting member may be disassembled from said yoke member.

10. In a draft arrangement, a yoke having vertical and horizontal webs defining a rectangular opening for a draft gear, a diagonal member at the rear of said yoke defining with said webs a substantially triangular pocket projecting into said opening, and means in said pocket for adjusting the effective length thereof, comprising a wedge slidable along said member, an adjusting screw within said pocket in adjustable engagement with said wedge and operable to move said wedge along said member for adjusting the effective length of said opening, means on said member engaging the top of said wedge to hold said wedge in normal vertical position, said last-mentioned means comprising a T-shaped lug received in a complementary pocket in said Wedge, one of said horizontal webs having a diagonal portion forming a seat, a shoulder on said screw seated on said seat and an elongate slot in said one web in overlapping arrangement with said seat, said screw having a T-shaped shank adapted to pass through said slot in a single position of rotation, and means on said yoke adapted to engage portions of said shank for fixing said screw against rotation.

EDMUND P. KINNE. FRANK H. KAYLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,716 Pletcher Jan. 30, 1923 1,659,458 Clark et a1. Feb. 14, 1928 1,962,313 Lehman 1 June 12, 1934 2,241,353 Kinne et al May 6, 1941 2,307,409 Kinne et al. Jan. 5, 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,452,015. October 19, 1948.

EDMUND P. KINNE ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, lines 34 and 7 0, after the Word pocket insert a comma; same column lines 34 and 35, strike out extending into said opening and and insert the same before slidable in line 35; lines 53 and 54, strike out projecting into said opening and insert the same after pocket in line 54; lines 70 and 71, strike out projecting into said opening and and insert the same before slidable in line 71; column 6, lines 19 and 20, strike out projecting into said opening and insert the same after pocket and before for in line 20;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of April, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommissioner of Patents. 

